Self Instructor

Content

Start

Narration, study of the drum

0:00

Long roll

1:00

7 stroke roll

4:55

5 stroke roll

7:28

9 stroke roll

9:38

About Frank Fancher

Frank “Champ” Fancher (1884-1966) was a World Champion Senior Individual Rudimental Snare Drummer from Milford, CT. Mr. Fancher repeatedly won the state championships of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, the New England Championship, the Eastern States Championship, and three national championships. He was widely acclaimed as a practitioner of the Bruce & Emmett and Strube methods. [1]

Early Life

Frank Fancher was born in New Haven and was a student of J. Burns Moore.

According to Paul Munier:

“When he first wanted to start drumming he received no encouragement because his older brother was already drumming. He started studying with J. Burns Moore in secret. When his father found out he nailed the heel of a shoe to the sideboard in their dining room and Frank did his practicing there after that.“ [2]

Mr. Fancher started out in the Golden Legion Corps in New Haven and was associated with the following groups at different points in his career [1]:

2nd Regt. Governor’s Foot Guard Band

Milford Grenadiers

Warner Brothers Grenadiers

West End Corps

Junior Mechanics Corps

American Graphophone Corps

Devon Corps

Loyal Order of Moose #703 - Waterbury

Odell Chapman Corps

Acclaim

Through his career he won 183 First prizes including three national snare drumming championships:

Madison Square Garden, New York, 1907

Newark, New Jersey, 1915

Washington, DC, 1925

Mr. Fancher marched with the band that led the Inaugural Parade and Inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge in 1925. Membership was offered for services rendered to the U.S. School of Music and U.S. Army band in connection with the promotion and instruction of Rudimental Drumming. [3]

His last cup was received in 1958 as a Champion Old-Time Drummer from the Military Association of Parade Drummers (MAPD).

In 1962 he was named an honorary member of the Military Association of Drum Majors in recognition of his record as a Champion Snare Drummer. [2]

Mr. Fancher held endorsements with W. F. Ludwig, Slingerland, and the Chapman Drum Company at various points in his life. [3]

Recording

After Mr. Fancher received the Cup in 1958 from the MAPD he decided to get “active” again in drumming. In 1960, at the age of approximately 75, he made a recording of his drumming. [2]

Archival Notes

The Frank Fancher LP Record is a holding of the Archives of the Company of Fifers & Drummers. No documentation accompanies the LP, it is in a plain white dust sleeve with no markings, and the only clue to the contents is “Frank Fancher” written in pencil on the center label of the LP.

The contents of the recording are presented in their entirety, and can be grouped into three main areas: A demonstration of the 13 Essential Rudiments performed on a drum pad from slow to fast and back to slow again; a series of drum beatings performed on a field drum; and a “Self Instructor” section. Mr. Fancher speaks at several points in the recording.

The LP itself is in good condition with the exception of a large warp in the edge of the LP. The greatest impact of this is to the first track of the beatings, and causes repeated skips in the rendition of Army 2/4 and some artifacts in the recording after. The majority of the sound artifacts that lie in gaps between the notes played by the performer have been removed in the editing process, as have various pops and scratches.

The Company of Fifers & Drummers is a non-profit organization formed in 1965 to perpetuate the historical significance and folk traditions of fife and drum music, and to foster the spirit of fellowship among fifers and drummers everywhere.